Saint Frances Cabrini Parish

Father Kleppner - September 9, 2007

Find the Joy in Confession

Many Catholics forget that the purpose of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is just that – reconciliation. We get so caught up in our guilt that we miss the point.
“I hadn’t been to Confession in years,” confided Thomas. “I kept telling myself it was okay. God knew what was in my heart. Then I realized that the real reason I didn’t go was because I was afraid to face all my sins.”
Imagine how great it felt when I finally heard the priest say, “I absolve you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
Toby said, “I stayed away because I was scared of what the priest would say if he heard some of the bad things I had done when I was younger. Finally, I couldn’t stand it anymore so I went. Want to know what the priest said to me after conveying absolution? “Welcome back!”
“Avoiding Confession wasn’t something I did consciously,” said Sharon. “It just wasn’t important to me. Then, I followed the accounts of how Pope John Paul II spent his final hours and was struck by his peace. I knew that I could only have peace like that if I was reconciled to Jesus.” The gift of Reconciliation is offered to each of us. It’s there for the taking.

Why do Catholics go to Confession?

Disobeying God damages our friendship with him, so we need to ask his forgiveness to heal it. But that has to come on God’s terms. As Jesus directed, the Church established the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation (also called “Confession”) to bring us back to God. In Confession, we admit what we did, say that we’re sorry, and resolve never to do it again. Penance helps us make up for it. When the priest conveys Christ’s forgiveness to us, our friendship is restored.

Do we really need Confession?

the ocean. It’s windy, and you have to struggle to stay on course. If it weren’t for your compass, you’d be lost.
The sacrament of Reconciliation is like a compass designed to help keep us on track to Heaven in the face of heavy winds. The points of the compass are such Biblical guides for our behavior as the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:12-17) and the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-11) and we are piloting toward them.
When preparing for Confession, ask yourself how your actions compare to these standards. You may also want to figure out how Jesus might have handled the situations you’ve faced. The difference would be the basis for your confession.
The best part? Afterwards the slate is wiped clean and you get to try again.

Help your child make a good Confession

All children need reassurance that they are loved even when they mess up. That’s why Jesus created the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He wanted to give us an outward sign of his unconditional love and forgiveness. Try these tips to help children appreciate God’s special, forgiving love:
“Who, Me?!” Children often think of sin as relative. “It was okay to hit him because he hit me first.” “I took his pen because he took my glove.”
Children need to know that God’s rules are the ones to follow. Use the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes as guides.
“Say you’re sorry.” Even young children can understand the need to say they’re sorry when they do something wrong. That’s the first step toward taking responsibility for our actions and changing our behavior.
Change. Avoiding future sin means deciding to change. The priest hearing Confession may have suggestions, but you can also help your child figure out how to keep from “messing up” in the future.
Remember – forgiving sin is what God loves to do most.

Practice full disclosure

Confessing and taking responsibility for all of our sins are keys to obtaining God’s forgiveness. “If we say, “We are without sin,” we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing” (1 John 1:8-9).

Ask for healing together

The most effective way convince our children of the value of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is to seek it ourselves. If you haven’t been to Confession in years, remember that it is first and foremost a sacrament of healing. And welcoming a penitent sinner back to God’s forgiveness is one of a priest’s greatest joys.

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